Machine for clenching ends to can-bodies



. A. JOHNSON. I

MACHINE F.0R CLENCHINGENDS T0 CAN BODIES.

* v APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4 1916. 1,333,316, Patented Ma1-.9,1920.

- a SHEETS-SHEET 1. 11

IN VEN TOR.

, WITNESS." v Y X I v. I TATTORNEY.

, A. JOHNSON.

MACHINE FOR CLENCHING ENDS T0 CAN BODIES.

APPLICATION FILED JANA, 191s.

1,333,31 6, Patented Mar. 9,1920.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F" 2. t 43 1 42 r 11 38 39 47 53 51 WITNESS 11v ENTOR.

I BY I A. JOHNSON.

MACHINE FOR CLENCHING ENDS T0 CAN BODIES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4. 1916- WITNESS '4 v I VENTOR.

I ATTORNEY,

AXEL Jonnson, or OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, nssrenon '10 AMERICAN CAN'COMPANY,

OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF N JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR CLENCHING ENDS 'IO CAN-BODIES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

Application filed January 4, 1916. Serial No. 70,227.

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, AXEL JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in-the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Clenching Ends to Can-Bodies, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a machine for positioning and loosely but permanently clenching can ends orcovers onto cans used for the preservation of food prod- I nently on the filled can ucts or other materials therein.

In the use of the -class of containers known as sanitary cans, itis customary to place the cover or end loosely but prior to sub ecting the contents thereof to the final cooking or exhausting process, and to retain said can end or cover in position by clenching over its flange to unite'the same to the open end of the can in several places about its periphery.

The machine hereinafter described performs these operations upon constantly moving cans, without .invo ping and starting-of heavy .parts, and is therefore continuous in its operation, and

the said machine possesses great advan- I as.

operation over such machines as are'at tages in the way of economy and speed of resent employed for uniting covers to the filled contalners prior to subecting the same to processing.

The lnvention consists essentially in the means for removing a can end from a stack of such ends and conveying the same to open end maintaining the cover so positioned firmly held to the open end of the filled container until losely united thereto by having the flange thereof clenched toflthe open end of the container in several places about its periph-.

cry. The can end cover is thus looselybut permanently secured to the filled-container, and when so united provides" sufficient space for'the free escape of vapors from within the container on the contents thereof being subjected to theprocessing operation.

In order to comprehend the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying sheets ofidrawings, in' which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mapermalving the stop:

the can en s or y ample,

chine, with certain parts thereof broken away.

Fig. 2 is a broken longitudinal sectional view, taken in a plane represented by the line wm of Fig. 1, and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

, Fig. 3 is a sectional planview taken in the direction of the arrows on the line y-y of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a part-sectional detail View of the turret, similar to Fig. 2 except that the feed mechanism is shown in operative position.

Fig. 5 is a part-sectional detail plan of the clenching mechanism.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 represents a suitably constructed bed or frame capable of supporting the working parts of the apparatus, upon which is mounted a horizontal table 2,-Fig. 1 of the drawings. Tracks 3 are supported by the table 2, and in proximity thereto and on either side thereof are guide rails 4:, said tracks 3 are guide rails t'forming a guide-way for the travel of the filled cans 5 through the machine, as shown in Figs. '2- and 3 of the drawings. A conveyer chain 6, Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, having spaced upwardly -projecting lugs 7, is carried by suitably mounted sprockets 8 and 9, and is so disposed that its upper run travels in a groove 10 between the two can supporting tracks 3, the projecting lugs 9 of said conveyer being adapted to engage with the cans 5 to move the same alo g the runway formed by the tracks 3 and the guide rails'4. Power is transmitted to the sprocket 9, for driving the conveyer chain 6, by means hereinafter shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. as united together by a light super-frame 12, columns 11 is a is held thereto in spaced relationtto the table 2 by means of the set screwsl t.

A. drive shaft 18, Fig. 1 of the drawings, is journaled' in a suitable bracket 19 attached to the supe -frame 12-, and suitable means' are provided for supplying power to this drive shaft 18, as forexa belt pulley 20. A bevel gear 21 opposite end of said drive shaft 18 and mounted. upon these on the head 'member -13, which 26. A pair of spaced bevel gears 27 and 27 mounted on said horizontal shaft 25, respectively drive two spaced, parallel, vertlcal shafts 28 and 28, through the medium of the intermeshing gears 27 and 27 mounted respectively on the said shafts 28 and 28, which said shafts carry at their lower ends the rotary conveyer ,plates 29 and 29 set flush with the can tracks 3 on the table 2, and clencher heads 30 and 30, Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings, carrying the grooved clencher blocks 31. A downward extension of the shaft 28 drives, by means of the intermeshing bevel gears'32 and 33, Fig. 1 of the drawings, a horizontal shaft 34 upon which is fixed the driving sprocket 9 for the conveyer chain 6, Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

A vertically disposed turret 35, Figs. 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings, within the head member 13, is fixed to the horizontal shaft 25 mid-way between the bevel gears 27 and 27 This turret 35 carries a series of regularly spaced, radially extended lugs 36, to each of which is pivotally connected, for rocking -movement in the plane of rotation of the turret 35, a can end carrying chuck 37. Spiral springs 37 surrounding the pivotal connections thus formed, normally retain the chucks 37 in tangential positions.

In the upper part of the head 13, and in the plane of rotation of the turret 35, is fixed a suitably constructed holder 38 adapted to contain a stack of inverted can ends or cover plates 39, Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings. The stack of ends 39 is normally supported by a plate 40, Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, which covers slightly more than half the diameter. of the interior bore of the said holder 38., The discharge of the lowermost can end 39' from within the holder 38 is effected by acut-out finger 41, which is inserted by the inward movement of the "longitudinally movable slide rod 42, between said lowermost end 39' and its neighbor next above, the said rod 42 being held normally outwardly tension of the spring 42. The inclined upper face 43 of said cut-out finger 41 on the inward movement of the slide rod 42 gradually raises the entire stack of ends 39, with the exception of the lowermost'end 39', within the holder 38, thus permitting the inclined lower face 44 of said cut-out finger to downwardly tip said lowermost end, as

' shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, so that one portion of the flange 45 of said tilted can end is positioned to be engaged and the pressed by the i can end withdrawn from within the holder 38 by one of the chucks 37 during the course of its rotary travel. A pair of segmental guide-plates 46, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, form a flexible guard apron for holding the removed end 39 in engagement with the chuck 37 by which said end is carried downward, inverted, and deposited upon the 0 en end of a positioned can 5, as shown in igs. 2 and 4 of the drawings. The guide plates 46 constituting the guard apron are flexibly held at their upper ends in the path of the advancing can ends 39 by. spring pressed anchor rods 47, and the lower end sections 48 of said segmental plates 46 are pivoted at 49 and flexibly held in position by springs 50. g

The sliding rod 42 carrying the cut-out or selector finger 41 is operated by a lever 51, Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, carried by a vertical rock shaft 52, "and keyed thereto to allow longitudinal but not rotary movement therebetween. The vertical shaft 52 is journaled at its upper end in abracket 53 extending from the head 13, and at its lower end in a bracket 54 carried by the table 2. A lever 55, secured to and projecting from the lower end of said shaft 52, is engaged by one end 56 of a double horizontally-rock- This movement is transmitted, through the system of levers and shafts described, to the cut-out selector finger 41, so that the movement of the lever 57 by an advancing can 5 operates the rod 42 to move the cut-out finger 41 to separate the lowermost can end 39 from its adjacent end of the stack of can ends within the holder 38 and to tip the same downward to place a portion of its flange 45in the path of an advancing chuck 37 by which chuck 37 the flange 45 of said end 39 is engaged, and the end withdrawn from within the holder and carried downward, and deposited upon the open end of the can 5, which during this interval has advanced from the lever 57 to a position for receiving said end beneath the turret 35. Obviously, if no can passes the lever 57, no end will be removed from the holder 38.

As the can 5 approaches the position indicated at A,,Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings,

it is moved by the iendlessflconveyer onto the rotary conveyer plates 29 and 29, and is-supported on and advanced by the said rotating conveyer plates, Fig. 5 of the drawings, during which travel its end 39 is firmly held in position by the chuck 37, Fig. 2 of the drawings. At the same time the flange of said end'39' is clenched over the flange of the can in a plurality of places (preferably four in number) by the clencher blocks 31 on the revolving heads 30 and 30 i apron, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings,

said head carrying one or more stamping dies 65, adapted to bear against the downwardly advancing can ends 39 the chucks 37 and to stamp thereon any desired mark, design, or legend. In'the present case the head 64 is shown as provided with two dies 65, and the shaft 60 is rotated at the proper speed to cause the dies carried thereby to engage with and stamp each and every can end to be stamped.

The operation of the before described timed working parts is such that during the working of the machine a series of filled open ended cans are conveyedby theendless carrier or conveyer chain .6 111 spaced relation along the guide-way toward the seaming mechanism until brought within the sphere of the rotatable conveyer plates 29 and 29 situated within an interrupted portion of the guide rails 4, the filled cans being delivered onto the said conveyer plates by the endless carrier or conveyer chain 6 and by the rotation of said plates carried between the grooved clenching blocks 31 secured to the heads 30 and 30. As the cans are moved within the head member 13 an end or cover plate is gradually deposited thereon by one of the can end carrying chucks 37 during the rotary movement of the turret 35'. By the time the can reaches the position A, Fig. 2 of the drawings, the can end will'be in proper position relative to the filled can and will be firmly held thereon while carried between the clenching blocks. Inasmuch as the distance between opposing clenching blocks is substantially equal to the diameter of the filled can and is of less diameter than the can end, it is obvious that as the filled can with an end cover loosely applied thereto is forcibly carried between the said blocks, the flange of the can end or cover plate is turned over or clenched onto the open end of the can.

As previously stated, the can ends or covers are successively withdrawn from within the holder containing the stack of inverted can ends, by means of the traveling can end chucks 37 and are held thereon by the pressure of the segmental plates 46, During the downward travel or path of -movement of the can end chucks from the can end holder toward the seaming block, the can endscarried thereby are gradually flangethe reof downwar I am aware that changes may be made carried byturned over from the position in which 1 they are received from the can end holder, so that they are deposited onto the open end of the traveling filled cans with the dly projected.

in the form and construction of the associated worklng parts of the machine as here- I inbefore described, without in any manner affecting the essential principles of the invention. Iv therefore do not wish to be construedv as limiting myself in this regard,

but on the contrary, wish to claim the invention as broadly as thestate of the art willpermit. In the preferred form of embodiment of the invention the actuating mechanism for the can end receiving chucks is such as to impart a curvilinear path of travel to said chucks continuously in but one direction, but it is obvious that any form of mechanism for actuating the can end' chucks and imparting a curvilinear path of travel thereto may be employed, and. I do not wish therefore to be understood as confining the travel of the can'end chucks to a continuous curvilinear movement in but one direction. Again, the interconnected drive means for propelling the cans through the apparatusand'actuating the canfend chucks is illustrated and described as imparting conto said parts,

tinuous movement of travel but it is apparent that intermittent travel may be imparted thereto, theonly requirement being that the said parts operate in timed relation with each other.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is 1. In a machine for the described. purceiving and advancing through the machine open ended can bodies for receiving and having secured thereto an end cover, devices for receiving, positioning and applying can end covers to said bodies, mechanism for imof action of said clenching means.

2. In machine for the described purpose,

. pose, the combination of a carrier for rethe combination of means for propelling open ended can bodies through the machine, a rotary can end receiving and applying device having chucks for carrying-can ends, said rotary device acting to position the chucks to apply the can ends to the can bodies, and means for clenching the can ends on to the can bodies, said clenching means being mounted and operating independently of said receiving and applying device and arranged at the sides of the can end applying position of the chucks. 3. In a machine for the described purpose, the combination of means. for propelling open ended can bodies through the machine, a rotary can end receiving and applying device having chucks for carrying can ends, pivots'for said chucks arranged transverse to the line of travel of the can bodies, and springs holding said chucks yieldingly in can end applying position. i

4:. In a machine for the described purpose, the same comprising a holder adapted to contain a stack of inverted can ends, a device coacting with said holder for cutting out the lowermost end of the stack of can ends contained therein, can end holding means for removing the cut out can end and positioning and applying the same to the open end of a positioned can body, and means for imparting a curvilinear path of travel to said can end receiving holder.

5. In a machine for the described purpose, the same comprising a holder adapted to contain a stack of inverted can ends, a device coacting with said holder for cutting out the lowermost can end of the stack of ends contained therein, can end holding means for removing the cut 'out end and positioning and applying the same to the open end of a positioned can body, means -for imparting a curvilinear path of travel to said can end receiving holder, and means for clenching the positioned can end cover to said can body.

6. Ina machine for the described purpose, the same comprising a holder adapted to contain a stack of inverted can ends, a spring held releasing means coacting with said holder for cutting out the lowermost end of the stack of ends contained therein, of means thrown into action by the movement of the can bodies for actuating said releasing means, a can end chuck for removing the cut out end from the said holder and positioning and applying the same to the open end of a positioned can body, means for imparting a curvilinear ath of travel to said can end chuck, and evices forclenchinggthe positioned can end tothe said can od 7In a machine for the describedpurpose', the combination with a carrier for conveying open ended cans through the machine, of a can end holder for receiving, positioning and itself directly applying a can end to said can bodies, means for imparting a curvilinear path of travel to said can end receiving devices on an axis parallel with the ends of the can bodies, rotary conveyers for receiving the can bodies with an end positioned thereon, and rotary means for clenching the can ends to said can bodies, and a .through the machine,

' livering can ends to said stationary holder for delivering can ends to the can end applying devices.

8. In a machine for the described purpose, the combination with means for receiving and advancing open ended can bodies of a plurality of spaced can end receiving chucks for receiving, positioning and themselves directly apcan ends successively to the can bodies, mechanism for imparting a curvilinear path of travel to said can end receiving chucks, radially acting devices coacting with saidchucks and acting with pressure toward the axis around which said chucks travel for stamping the can ends carried thereby, and means for clenching the can ends to said can bodies.

9. In a machine for the described purpose, the combination with means for receiving and advancing open end can bodies through the machine, of a plurality of spaced can end receiving chucks for receiving, positioning and themselves directly applying can ends successively to the can bodies, mechanism for imparting a curvilinear path of travel to said can end receiving chucks, radially acting devices coacting with said chucks and acting with pressure toward the axis around which said chucks travel for stamping the can ends carried thereby, means for clenching the can ends to said can bodies, and a. spring held means coacting with the can end receiving chucks for holding can ends seated thereon as conveyed toward the can bodies.

10. .In a machine for the described purpose, the combination with means for receivmg through the machine, of a vertically disposed rotary turret, a plurality ofcircumferentially disposed spaced can end chucks carried by said turret for receiving, conveying, positioning, and themselves directly applying can ends successively to the. can bodies, clenching means arranged at the sides of the path of the advancing can bodies and mounted and ope ating independently of the movement of said turret for permanently uniting the can ends to said can bodies, and a stationary holder for dechucks.

11. In a .machine for the described purposeythe combination with a carrier for receiving and advancing open ended can bodies through the machine, of a vertically disposed rotary turret, a plurality of circumferentially disposed spring held can end chucks pivotally connected to said turret for receiving, conveymg and positioning can ends successively tosaid can bodies, and means for clenching the can ends to the can bodies.

12. In a machine for the described pur- I pose, the combination with a carrier for reand advancing open end can bodies ceiving and advancing open end can bodies through the machine, of a holder adapted to contain a stack of inverted can ends, means thrown into action by the traveling can bodies for cutting out one side of the lowermost end of the stack contained within the holder and dropping said end into an inclined position, a device actuated in timed relation with the traveling can bodies for removing the cut out and inclined can end, conveying, positioning and itself directly applying the same to a positioned can body,

and means for clenching the can end to the can body.

13. In a machine for the described purpose, the same comprising a carrier for conveying open end can bodies through the machine, a plurality of spaced can end chucks for receiving, conveying, positioning and applying can ends successively to the can bodies, mechanism for actuating the said carrier and the can end chucks in timed relation to carry the can bodies and said chucks to a can end applying station, and means operating at the can end applying station of said chucks for permanently uniting the positioned can ends to said can bodies, said uniting means being permanently located at the sides-of the path of the can bodies.

14. In a machine for the describedpurpose, the combination with a carrier for conveying open end can bodies through the machine, of a plurality of spaced rotary traveling pivoted and spring held can end chucks for receiving, conveying, positioning and applying can ends successively to the can bodies, mechanism for actuating the said carrier and the can end chucks in timed relation, a stationary holder for delivering can ends directly to said chucks, and means for permanentlyuniting the positioned can ends to the can bodies.

15. In a can end marking and applying machine, the combination of continuously rotating can end receiving means adapted also to apply the said ends to can bodies, can body feeding means operating continuously in unison with said applying means, and rotary can end marking devices operating on the can ends while they are held on-said applying means.

16., In a can end marking and applying machine, the combination of acan end carrier adapted to apply said ends to can bodies, can body feeding means, and can end marking means one marking element of which is attached to the can end carrier and the other marking element of which is independent of said carrier and is mounted to turn in a path toward, against the end of and then away from the end of the can body.

17. I11 a can end marking and applying machine, the combination of a rotary can end carrier adapted also to apply the can ends to can bodies, can body feeding means, and rotary marking devices operating on said ends by a rotary movement while-they are held on said carrier.

18. In a. can end applying machine comprising in combination, a can body carrier, a rotating can end carrier turning continuously on a horizontal axis over the path of can bodies on said can carrier, can-actuated means for cutting out a can end from a stack of superposed can ends and projecting the same into the path of said can end carrier, said can end carrier being adapted to engage said can end and to extract the same from the said stack and to position the same upon the open end of a can body, and means permanently located at the sides of the path of the can and positioned can end forcrimping the same together.

19. A rotary can end carrier having can end applying chucks, in combination with a rotary printing device, said chucks and printing device cooperating to mark during their opposing rotary motion can ends when the latter are on said chucks.

:20. In a machine for marking can ends and applying the same to can bodies, the

combination of a can end carrier having can end carrying devices which rotate in a plane perpendicular to the plane of'the open ends of the cans, and amarking device rotatable in the same plane and cooperating successively with the faces of said can end carrying and applying devices.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AXEL JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

N. A. ACKER, D. B. RICHARDS. 

